Zamfara declares state of emergency on education sector, suspends licenses of private schools operators

Zamfara State government has declared a state of emergency on education, attributing the development to several years of decay in the sector.

The state government has also suspended the licenses of private schools operators to ensure that quality education is provided.

Governor Dauda Lawal made the announcement in a state-wide broadcast on Tuesday. He said the neglected education system in Zamfara affects all levels, from primary to tertiary institutions, with poor learning environments and personnel.

The declaration of a state of emergency on education is also in line with Lawal’s campaign promises to the people of Zamfara.

The state government has commenced the construction and renovation of 245 schools across the 14 Local Government Areas of the state; provision of two-seater desks for pupils and students, totalling 9,542, equipping the constructed and renovated 245 schools with 619 tables and 926 chairs for the teachers.

All teachers and education managers will also receive subject-specific training and retraining.

According to a statement made available to The Guardian by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the state government has also approved sponsoring 50 per cent of Zamfara indigenes admitted into Federal Government Girls College, Gusau for the 2023-2024 academic sessions.

The state government has also paid the National Examination Council (NECO) fees for all Zamfara public school candidates who sat for the 2023 examinations.

Similarly, certificates for the candidates who sat for the 2019 NECO examinations have been collected and distributed to the students.

The results of the NECO examinations taken in 2020, 2021 and 2022 will be released to students before the end of this month.

The results were previously withheld by the NECO due to non-payment of the requisite fees by the previous administration.

However, with the intervention of the Lawal administration, students who graduated during those years can now access their results and apply to different tertiary institutions for admission.

Governor Lawal has also paid the tuition fees and allowances of students on scholarship in various countries, including Sudan, Cyprus, and India.

This ensures they continue their studies without interruption due to debts incurred by the previous government.

The statement concluded by stating that these measures are just the beginning of the government’s efforts to transform education in Zamfara, assuring the people that the government is committed to changing the narrative of constant underperformance and that Zamfara will thrive across all sectors.